IRON CROSS and STAR of DAVID Jewish Soldiers in German Armies

Michael Berger Seite 1 08.09.2006 IRON CROSS and STAR OF DAVID Jewish Soldiers in German Armies Introduction: Subject of my book is the History of Jewish Soldiers in German Armies, beginning with the Emancipation till the World Wars – the History of German Jews, taking ac- tive part in the Armies of the different Duchies, in the Army of the Kaiserrreich and the Weimarer Republik, as well as in the Wars of the 19th century, in World War I, fighting for Germany and many of them losing their life. Their History is not only an important part of German Jewish History, but it also shows the perpetual striving for Jewish-German Integration, which determined their life in Germany after the French Revolution when the Jews became citizens with equal rights. It was not only the Integration of Jewish Soldiers within the Army, but it gave them the opportunity to be recognized by German society through their Military Service. The strong link between Military Service and Integration was recognized as such from the beginning of Jewish Emancipation in Germany; therefore they claimed the right to fight for their “Fatherland” as their civil rights existed initially on paper only. The History of Jewish Soldiers in German Armies is documenting the time after the Creation of the Kaiserreich, as a time full of tension between absolute willingness of German Jews to integrate but on the other side of a steadily growing Antisemitism, in a society marked by Prussian Militarism. This development was interrupted only a short time in World War I and culminated in persecution, expulsion from their country and the Genocide. The years after WW I, the Weimarer Republik was marked by the fight of the Reichsbund Jüdischer Frontsoldaten (organization of Jewish war veterans in Ger- many) against antisemitic campaigns of parties of the extreme Right, becoming more and more powerful. In the Reichswehr, counting 100.000 men were only very few Jewish Soldiers. In the time after 1933, when the Nazis came into power, the former Jewish Soldiers, having fought for Germany like their forefathers, did now face the fate of humilia- tion, persecution and being murdered. The last chapter describes the tradition of nurturing the memory of Jewish soldiers in World War I, that started soon after establishing the Bundeswehr and it describes as well the History of the few Jewish soldiers serving in the Bundeswehr. As a conclu- sion of the History of Jewish soldiers in the armies of France, Austro-Hungary, Italy and Rumania, it shows many things in common, but even more the differences between German and the Armies of other European countries. 1. Time of Emancipation – early History of Emancipation So – how did the History of Jewish Soldiers in German Armies start? Michael Berger Seite 2 08.09.2006 In the last decennies of the 18th and the first of the 19th century the situation of the Jews in the German duchies began to improve. In the 18th century the Jews living in the different European countries were consid- ered as inferior citizens, a kind of 2nd class citizens. In Prussia King Frederic the Great generally exerted religious tolerance. With the Jews he showed intolerance and even reactionism, as far as their civil rights were concerned. Frederic divided the Jews into 6 categories, classes. Only the privileged from the first class were de facto citizens. To these privileged people belonged for ex. the families of the Itzigs an Ephraims, court bankers, entrepreneurs an jewelers. The famous philosopher Moses Mendelssohn started as a 6th class Jew, which meant to be practically without any rights. Only in 1763 because of his reputation he became a Jew of the 3rd class and he got the license to get married. Practically no Jew in Prussia and the other German states was recognized as a citizen with equal rights, so the question of joining military service or even a military career was not relevant. Thus there are very few traces of Jewish soldiers in the Prussian army of the 18th century, it can not be excluded, however, that in the Wars of Frederic the Great, such as the Siebenjähriger Krieg, there were Jews in the Prussian army. It is very likely, that those, who served as officers, were baptized, like for ex. Konstantin Nathanel of Salomon, who was promoted to general in 1760 because of his bravery. His son too, served as an officer in the Prussian army. What was the reason to improve the situation of the Jews in Europe and especially here in the German states? The first step towards a political change was the Toleranzpatent, promulgated by the Emperor Joseph II. in Vienna. The real breakthrough came however with the French revolution. In 1791 the French Jews got the full civil rights. Not only the resolutions of the French National Assembly, but the advance of the troops of Emperor Napo- leon in Europe brought the civilian equality to the Jews in the German States, being occupied by Napoleon. 2. Wars of Liberation From now on German Jews served in the French troops as in the Armies of the Rheinbundstaaten, the German territories under French influence, like for ex. in the Bavarian army. In Prussia, the State Chancellor, Duke of Hardenberg, managed to establish the nearly complete civilian equality for the Prussian Jews. The Edict of 1812 made it possible to acquire the Civil Rights, but excluding the right to enter civil service and with restrictions in the military service. As a result of this progress the Prussian Jews identified themselves with the State giving them at least a broader legal eqality. So quite a number of Jewish volunteers went with enthusiasm to war against Napo- leon; they were all very well rated by their supervisors, were promoted and got deco- rations. In the Liberation-Wars against Napoleon 1813-15 seven hundred and thirty one Jewish soldiers fought with the Prussian army. Presumedly more than 500 were volunteers. The others were regular conscripts. 82 got the Iron Cross, one got the highest decoration, the Pour le Mérite and 23 were promoted to officers. These facts and numbers compared to the total of 731 show, how successfully and enthusiasti- Michael Berger Seite 3 08.09.2006 cally Prussian Jews fought for their country. One of these officers was the youngest son of Moses Mendelssohn, Nathan Mendelssohn, he was promoted lieutenant. After 1815, when Napoleon was finally defeated, Jewish integration and civil equality got a setback. As a result of the Vienna Congress there was a reorganisation of the European state system. At the Congress they discussed about equal rights for Jews and the reactionary party outnumbered the others. The civil rights from the Harden- berg Edict were repelled by most of the States of the newly created Staatenbund or simply not put into practice. King Friedrich Wilhelm III. had promised the volunteers of 1813, that after the end of the war they could claim to be accepted as civil servants. This promise was not hold as far as the Jewish volunteers were concerned. 3. Wars of Liberation to the Revolution of 1848 In 1825 only 190 Jewish soldiers served in the Prussian army. When in 1827 at a census, they found out an under-representation of Jewish soldiers, a decree stipulated that Jewish and gentile recruits should be treated equally. After that decree their number grew slowly: in 1834 there were 354 Jewish soldiers in the Prussian army, in 1834 three hundred ninety four and in 1843 four hundred and twenty five. Obviously the army was now ready to accept Jewish soldiers without prejudice. They all were judged very well by their supervisors. Although there was a stop for promotion from 1822, several soldiers were promoted to sergeants. Two Liberation War volunteers got the licence as Landwehr – Offizier (the Landwehr was a kind of Na- tional Guard and the Landwehr - officers were regarded as 2nd class officers). Here we have to point out the Jews promoted to officers during the wars of Liberation. The officer-corps, dominated by the aristocracy, were of course against all officers, that didn´t belong to the aristocracy, and especially against the Jewish officers. In the years following the end of the war they were treated in a way, that they were forced to resign. Only one officer remained in the army and was promoted. About this officer, Meno Burg, I`ll talk later on. In 1845 the Conscription for Jews was extended all over the Prussian Kingdom. All Prussian Jews supported this decision, as it was clear that equality could be reached in the Prussian Military State only through military service. Despite some discriminations concerning their promotion Jewish soldiers had reached quite a lot. They were accepted as conscripts and regularly promoted to sergeants. Some of those former sergeants got after leaving the army at least minor posi- tions in the civil service. Due to their excellent performance in the Army they had thus stopped the impending exclusion. The law of 1847 approached the Jewish legal position to the general civil rights. All Jews were now able to get public functions, at least in some restricted way and also without having served in the army. The situation of the Jewish soldiers however did not improve completely. They were still not allowed to become officers. The only exceptions were the two Landwehrof- fiziere, mentioned above. Meno Burg, in the Liberation War artillery lieutenant, was promoted up to major. He was the only officer being promoted after the wars of liberation and the only Jewish staff-officer in the Prussian army during the 19th century.

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